The Effects of Contact Lenses Worn for Looks

Contact lenses that are worn for looks come in a wide array of colors, including hazel, green, blue and even wilder colors such as red and purple. Although colored contacts may look cool, there are some effects and potential dangers that you should be aware of.

Expert Insight

In an editorial published in the "Eye and Contact Lens" scientific journal in 2003, ophthalmologist Dr. H. Dwight Cavanagh warned that the sale of fashionable contact lenses by unregulated outlets is a danger to the eye health of the general public.

Infection

When a contact lens doesn't fit correctly, it can rub against the cornea of the eye and cause infections. In very serious situations, these infections can even lead to blindness.

Inflammation

A contact lens that is not prescribed by a doctor and fitted correctly could scar the eye permanently and cause it to become inflamed.

Blur

The center of a fashion contact lens is left clear for sight while the outside ring contains the color. So when the pupil grows larger, as is the case in darkness, a person's vision may become blurry.

Considerations

The Food and Drug Administration put a hold on the sale of over-the-counter colored contact lenses, but these lenses are still imported from other, unregulated countries and sold at stores and flea markets.

References

• Science Blog: Fashionable contact lenses may pose a danger to your eyesight
• Consumer Guide to colored lenses